tan1 naa5 jyu4吞那魚吞那鱼
Jyutpingtan1 naa5 jyu4
Yaletān náh yùh
Definition
Tuna; tuna fish.
colloquialfood
How it's used
Pronunciation of this loanword often varies among speakers, with some opting for the more standard transliteration 吞拿魚. It is almost exclusively used in the context of food, particularly when referring to canned fish or sushi fillings. Using it to describe the animal in a biological sense is rare and sounds slightly unnatural.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
He really likes eating tuna sandwiches.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the pronunciation of the second character due to the influence of English, but it is strictly a phonetic loan. Ensure you do not mix it up with 吞落, which means to swallow something down.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
